Over the past 10 months, I trained for a HYROX fitness race, completing both a local, unofficial event and the Vancouver race.
I didn’t set out to learn leadership or life lessons; I just wanted to see if my body and my mind could meet the challenge. What I discovered, though, went far beyond fitness.
For those unfamiliar, HYROX is a global indoor fitness race that combines running with demanding functional fitness exercises, including ski erg, sled pushes, sled pulls, sandbag lunges, rowing, burpee broad jumps, farmer’s carries and wall balls. Participants run 1 km, complete an exercise, and repeat eight times. The race tests not only physical endurance but also mental resilience, making it as much a mindset challenge as a fitness one.
As the months of training progressed, the physical and mental demands of HYROX became an unexpected classroom, offering lessons that applied far beyond the race itself. Here are the key takeaways from my experience.
Expert Guidance Makes All the Difference
Working with a skilled trainer made all the difference and transformed my results. With his expertise and guidance, I started off slowly, then gradually changed the exercises, increased reps and weight, always with safety in mind.
Even more powerful were his pep talks right before each race: “Don’t look at what others are doing. Don’t compare yourself. Run your own race. You’re ready because you’ve trained for this. Communicate with your partner.” Those words reminded me to trust myself and the process, a lesson that applies to both leadership and life.
The Power of a Support Team
My training crystallized the importance of a strong support system. My health professional team, comprised of a physiotherapist, chiropractor, and massage therapist, played a critical role in my ability to train consistently and successfully complete the race. As in leadership and life, surrounding yourself with trusted subject matter experts you have complete confidence in can make all the difference in achieving your goals.
Goals Keep You Grounded
Having HYROX Vancouver as a clear target focused my mind. My first unofficial race was solo, which helped build my confidence but also created stress because I wasn’t completely certain I would finish. Racing in Vancouver with a partner eased much of that anxiety. I felt fully prepared, knowing I was stronger both physically and mentally, and I also trusted that we would support each other when needed.
In leadership and life, setting clear goals keeps you grounded and focused. Partnering with trusted colleagues, friends, or mentors can reduce stress, build confidence, and make achieving your goals a shared and more manageable experience.
Presence Turns Pressure into Meaning
During the Vancouver race, I focused on being fully present: taking in all of the energy, excitement, and dedication of everyone involved. I wanted to enjoy the moment and have fun. Leadership, like racing, requires noticing the effort around you while respecting your own work and enjoying what you are doing.
Pain and Self-Awareness Matter
Whether I was running, doing burpee broad jumps, lunges, wall balls or the other exercises, I learned to assess discomfort (and believe you me, there was a lot of it!) My trainer’s voice echoed in my mind: “Is this low-level effort, or real warning pain?” Thankfully, it never reached level 10, what he described as “being thrown out of a ten-story building and run over by a truck.” Distinguishing between the two prevented injury and kept me moving safely. That distinction matters in leadership as well, knowing the difference between healthy stretch and harmful strain.
Listening to Your Body and Mind Is Essential
Some days my energy levels were low, body felt sore, or I didn’t want to work out for two hours. Being aware of that, I learned to practice self-compassion and was gentler with myself rather than pushing through it.
One day, however, I became overwhelmed and emotional mid-training. My inner critic shouted, “This is too hard! Stop! Why are you doing this?!?” I paused, breathed, wiped my eyes, reminded myself of my goal, and applied techniques from Positive Intelligence to shift my mindset.
I also reached out to a few people, curious to explore what might have triggered my reaction and better understand my emotional response. My physio suggested that more than likely my mental and emotional resources were depleted, so it was crucial to listen to both my body and mind, and allow for recovery. Thankfully, a few days after this happened, I attended an amazing music festival which helped me refill my emotional and mental tank and I returned to the gym with a better mindset.
The Big Takeaway
HYROX taught me that leadership and life, like endurance training, isn’t about relentless pushing. It’s about support, pacing, presence, trust, consistency, and recovery. And above all, it’s about running your own race, trusting your preparation, and showing up for yourself every single day.
If you’re working toward a big goal, remember to pace yourself, trust your preparation, and keep showing up even when the path feels uncomfortable or others don’t fully understand your goals.
Thank Yous
I want to thank the many people who supported me throughout this amazing experience.
First and foremost, my trainer, Nima Nazemi, for the challenging workouts, for listening when it got tough, and for supporting and encouraging me every step of the way.
To my HYROX partner, Janine, thanks for going on this journey with me.
To my incredible health professionals – Joel McKay, Dr. Tim Wilkinson, and Shari Beckton, thank you. I will miss seeing you so often!
To the YWCA Saskatoon Fitness on 25th staff for your support and encouragement.
To my friends who supported me throughout this journey – you know who you are.
And to everyone who looked at me like I’d lost my mind, thank you for the gentle push; it made me even more determined to achieve my goal!
